Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook zucchini so it doesn't get mushy? ›

Unless you have time to salt and drain the zucchini, wait to salt it until after they're cooked so the salt doesn't draw out the moisture in the oven—this can lead to sogginess. You can add other seasonings, such as dried herbs and spices, before cooking.

Salting your zucchini is the most important step in preventing it from getting soggy. Additionally, make sure your pan is properly preheated before frying the breaded zucchini. Adding the zucchini to a cold pan will make it come out oily and soft rather than crisp and golden.

Quick Notes: The correct dredging order is flour first, then egg, then crumbs. Season all stages of breading foods. That means season the flour with salt and pepper and season the crumbs with salt and pepper.

The standard breading technique involves first dredging the item with flour, dipping it in egg wash, and then finally coating it with breadcrumbs. This works because the flour sticks to the food, the egg sticks to the flour, and the breadcrumbs stick to the egg.

Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

Remove the Seeds: The seeds and surrounding flesh can sometimes contribute to bitterness. You can scoop out the seeds before cooking. Salt and Drain: Sprinkle salt on sliced zucchini and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. This draws out excess moisture and bitterness.

Zucchini is 94 percent water, which is why it gets mushy when cooked for too long. The first step in this recipe involves salting the flesh of the zucchini and allowing it to stand for 15 minutes. The salt draws the moisture from the flesh which helps ensure that the vegetable stays firm during roasting.

Chill the breaded zucchini: It helps the breading stay stuck, which means they won't fall off in the fryer and they'll be crunchier. Refrigerate the breaded zucchini for at least 15 minutes and up to 3 hours—it's just enough time to help the breading stick.

Mold - Maybe the most obvious sign that fresh produce has gone bad. If you see mold on your zucchini, it's time to toss it out. Soft spots - When inspecting whole zucchini, if you find any soft spots that easily indent or feel squishy, this is a sign that it has begun to rot inside.

On the other hand, they may simply be waterlogging if your garden is poorly drained. Another possibility is squash bugs have damaged them and rot has set in as a result. In the meantime, keep removing the infected fruit as soon as you see signs of the problem.

How do you remove water from zucchini? ›

Sprinkle the grated zucchini with salt, only to season them, not more. Put them to drain in a colander with a dish underneath. Leave for 1 hour, then, using your hands, squeeze out the excess liquid.

Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices. I found quarter-inch slices the perfect thickness. Thinner slices fall apart during cooking; thicker slices require a longer salting time.

Salting these watery vegetables draws out extra water and flavor molecules. So don't skip this step—it allows more flavor to soak in and helps the veggies stand up to more heat and heavier dressings. Here's how to do it.

Mix eggs and flour together, then thin with water to a consistency just thick enough to adhere to the food you intend to fry. If necessary, rinse or dip food to be fried in water. Then dip food into seasoned flour, then into batter, then back into the seasoned flour.

Egg and flour are two essential ingredients in many baked goods and recipes. Eggs provide structure and moisture, while flour acts as a binding agent and helps to thicken and stabilize mixtures. Together, they create a foundation for a wide variety of dishes, from cakes and cookies to bread and pasta.

Just as in deep frying, the bread and flour have properties that allow them to be toasted and browned. The egg whites, like whole eggs, help the coating stick to the food. For sliced eggplant, egg whites and bread crumbs were all that were needed to provide a crunchy coating.